An artist of Iraqi descent, Nour Hassan was born in Kuwait and moved to New Zealand with her family as a child. Her emotionally charged and technically adept oil paintings explore a nebulous sense of belonging. Hassan works in large scale, each brush stroke a mark of intention defined by tension and expression.  Her debut collection   “Threshold” is a  powerful series of universal portraits depicting women semi-immersed in water, in-between, not fully in one state of being or another. 

Hassan is thirty years old and largely self-taught, making her command of the medium all the more impressive. She graduated from Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design in 2011 with a bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion. Growing up, Hassan was encouraged to study sciences but ditched  the exams to ensure she did not crowd her creative options.

​

Nour graduated with  a bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion,  but was unfulfilled.  Deeply inspired by classical and contemporary figurative artists,  she was determined further hone her drawing and painting talent toward a career in fine art.  After a period working in Melbourne, Hassan returned home to New Zealand. She has dedicated countless hours in her studio  developing  an intimate and modern approach to portraiture.

Her work has rapidly gained recognition. Early works have taken the top prize in three recent awards: the Lysaght Watt Trust Award, Taranaki, National Emerging Artist Award, Titirangi and Impressions National Art Award - Nelson.  Nour Hassan currently lives and works in Auckland. 

Education 

1999 - 2003

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Whitecliffe

Awards 

2018

2018

2018

Lysaght Watt Trust Art Award, Hawera

Impressions National Art Awards, Nelson 

Emerging Artist Award, Auckland

Collections 

2018

Threshold